ABOUT 25 years ago, there were only three medical schools in Malaysia. All were in government-run universities. Entry was based on merit with a fair share for Malaysians of every race. Scholarships and loans were relatively easy to obtain and poverty was never an issue. At RM800 per year, fees were affordable. Standards were high and getting a job in Malaysia or in Western countries was easy.
Today, many locally produced doctors are heads of departments overseas and at home. For those who could afford it and couldn’t gain entry into local universities, a handful of reputable overseas universities with strict entrance criteria were recognised.
